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Budapest, February 3 (MTI) – Poland has been the target of “unacceptable attacks” in Europe, but the Polish people and Poland deserve respect, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said after holding talks with his Polish counterpart in Budapest on Wednesday.

“European institutions, officials, countries and politicians must respect the democratic decision of the Polish people to authorise the current government, and everyone should accept this,” he said.

Cooperation with Poland has always been in the foreground of Hungarian foreign policy, both bilaterally and within the Visegrad grouping of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, Szijjarto said, adding that this would not change in future.

Strengthening cooperation within the V4 is in Hungary’s strategic interest as it made the country stronger and helped a joint representation of the four members’ interests within the EU, he said.

Strengthening the V4 is an all the more important goal since the Hungarian government expects that the central European region remain “the engine of growth in Europe” in the coming years, he said.

Political cooperation among the four members and the economic success they may achieve together can significantly increase their role and strength in Europe, the minister said.

Szijjarto emphasised that Hungary and Poland have common interests in security policy, as well as in economic and energy affairs. Concerning business cooperation, he noted the 492 million euro credit line Hungary’s Eximbank has opened to support joint ventures.

Szijjarto thanked Poland for its contribution provided within the Visegrad Four cooperation to Hungary’s efforts aimed at protecting the EU’s Schengen border during the migrant crisis.

Polish foreign minister Witold Waszczykowski welcomed Hungary’s support for Poland, adding that Europe should be dealing with real problems rather than “marginal issues”.

He praised Polish-Hungarian friendship and cooperation within the V4 and the successful Hungarian-Polish economic and energy projects.

Waszczykowski noted that bilateral trade has so far totalled 8 billion euros and called for boosting economic ties and cooperation in infrastructure projects.

He said his talks in Budapest also paved the way for the Polish prime minister’s official visit to Hungary next week.